What does forgive mean?
To forgive is to release feelings of resentment, anger, or the desire for retribution toward someone who has wronged you, whether or not they have apologised. The verb also has a practical application: debts, penalties, or obligations can be forgiven, meaning they are cancelled rather than collected — as when a lender forgives part of a loan. Forgiving does not require approving of the wrongdoing; it is generally understood as letting go of the grievance rather than declaring the act acceptable. The word appears constantly in religious and moral discourse, where forgiveness is often presented as a virtue or duty, and in everyday life, where phrases like 'forgive and forget' capture the ideal of moving on without lasting bitterness. Its emotional weight makes it a staple of literature, therapy, and personal reflection alike. Closely related forms include forgiveness, the noun denoting the act or quality itself, and forgiving, its adjectival form describing a merciful disposition.
verbTo stop resenting or holding a grudge against someone for a wrong they have done; to grant pardon or remission of a debt, penalty, or offence.
- To cease to resent or hold a grudge against someone for an offence or wrong.
- To grant pardon for or remission of a debt, penalty, or obligation (e.g. forgiving a loan).
"She found it in her heart to forgive her brother for the harsh words he spoke years ago."
"After months of anger, he finally forgave his friend for breaking his confidence."
"The bank agreed to forgive part of the outstanding loan."
Forgive comes from an Old English verb that literally meant 'to give completely' — the word for letting go of a debt was built from the word for giving it away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forgive
Forgive descends from the Old English verb 'forgiefan', formed from the prefix 'for-' (meaning 'completely' or 'away') combined with 'giefan', meaning 'to give'. Despite appearances, the 'for-' here was not originally negative; the compound meant 'to give utterly' or 'to grant', and only later came to mean pardoning a wrong. It corresponds closely to verbs in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'vergeven' and German 'vergeben', which share the same root structure and meaning.
Related word forms
How forgive is actually used
Forgive is a common, neutral-register verb used in both everyday and formal contexts. In religious language it carries connotations of mercy and absolution; in interpersonal use it implies releasing resentment rather than necessarily excusing the act itself. It is typically followed by a person ('forgive him') or, in the financial sense, by a debt ('forgive the loan').
Easily confused with forgive
Forgive means to pardon a wrongdoing, while forbid means to prohibit or disallow an action.